A small amount of vodka or icing glue (to stick the pieces of icing together)

A small amount of icing sugar (to dust surfaces to prevent sticking)

A piece of polystyrene.

Firstly we’ll make the black components of our panda:

Warm the ready to roll icing by rolling into a ball between your hands for a few minutes.

To make the legs Take ¼ of the ball, separate in half and roll 1 half into a log shape.

Using a finger and thumb pinch 1 end of the log and shape into a foot.

Use a cocktail stick to create the toes. Repeat with the other half to create the other leg.

To make the arms:

Take 2/3rds of the remaining black icing and roll into a log Pinch in the centre to create a flat area.

To make the face and eyes:

Roll 2/3 of the remaining icing flat and use a heart shaped cutter (or carefully use a sharp knife) to make a heart shaped piece.

With the remaining 1/3 make two very small balls for the pupils.

To make the ears:

Roll two small balls and flatten slightly, then using the end of a cocktail stick or the end of the paintbrush create a depression in the centre of each.

To make the nose:

Roll a small piece of icing into a ball, flatten slightly and pinch the edges to create a triangle.

Now for the white parts of the panda:

REMEMBER TO WASH YOUR HANDS SO AS NOT TO CONTAMINATE IT WITH THE BLACK

Warm the ready to roll icing by rolling into a ball between your hands for a few minutes.

Remove approximately 10% of the ball.

Roll 2 small balls to use for the eyes and the remainder into a ball which should be flattened slightly and shaped to form the snout.

Separate the remaining white icing into two pieces of about 1/3 for the head and 2/3 for the body and roll into balls.

Separate the pink icing into 6 small and 2 larger balls and flatten slightly.

All the component parts are now ready.

Push one of the cocktail sticks into the polystyrene to form a support.

Push the body ball onto the cocktail stick and push the head into place so you don’t accidentally stab yourself while placing the legs.

Slightly flatten the end of the leg that is to be fixed to the side of the body and brush some vodka or icing glue onto the flattened part and press into place.

Repeat with the other leg.

Remove the head, lift the cocktail stick a small amount and place the arms flat face down onto the cocktail stick and arrange to suit.

Brush one side of the snout with vodka or icing glue and press it into place.

Position the nose, eyes and pupils and push firmly into place.

Using one end of the cocktail stick, draw in the mouth.

Use the pink icing, push into position for the pads of the feet.

Your Panda is now complete.

DON’T FORGET! IF THIS IS TO BE GIVEN TO A CHILD YOU SHOULD USE A CANDY STICK FOR SUPPORT INSTEAD OF THE COCKTAIL STICK. YOU MUST ALWAYS REMOVE ANY COCKTAIL STICK BEFORE EATING TO AVOID POSSIBLE INJURY.